The influence of fiber chemical treatment on prevention of biologic deterioration of medium density fiberboard (MDF)

Abstract

Abstract In this research, the effects of acetylation on the prevention of white-rot and brown-rot fungi deterioration in medium density fiberboard (MDF) were investigated. Sample boards were made from acetylated poplar fibers, which were treated at different times (0, 30, 90 and 270 minutes) to obtain different weight percent gains (WPGs of 0, 4.85, 9.1, and 15.8 %). Totally twelve samples boards at three replication for every treatment were made.. The results were analyzed based on a complete randomized design (CRD) under a factorial experiment. Results revealed that the acetylation decreased the deterioration effect of white-rot and brown-rot fungi. As it was determined, the weight reduction of acetylated boards with the highest WPG (15.8 %) after 16 weeks were measured as 1.605 % and 16.93 % for white and brown-rot fungi, respectively. It was also determined that the weight loss of the control (untreated boards) samples was measured as 39.96 and 49.31% in the same period. The research results showed that the acetylation enhances biologic resistance in medium density fiberboard.

Keywords

• Acetylation
• MEDIUM DENSITY FIBERBOARD (MDF)
• White-rot fungus
• Brown-rot fungus
• Weight Percent Gain(WPG)